Bimetallic floor strip



!uy 7, M31. P. GALASSI BIMETALLIC FLOOR STRIP Filed July l, 1929 f2' lNVENTOR Rmgaae Gaad'.

BY ee/f Patented July 7, 19.31

PASQUALE GALASSI, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

BIMETALLIC Application filed July 1,

This invention relates to dividing strips for terrazzo and similar floors and more particularly refers to improvements in dividing strips of the type where economy of cost is obtained without impairing the appearance and serviceability of the product.

Terrazzo, granolithic, stucco and similar iioors usually comprise a lower or foundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar l@ or other suitable material, and an upper or finishing layer generally consisting of a mixture of marble chips and cement, by means of which a good durable surface may be obtained as well as pleasing designs and color l5 effects of a. practically unlimited variety.

The upper layer which is generally placed in position after the foundation layer has been allowedto harden to a suflicient degree of consistency, is' generally divided into a number of panels orunits in a predetermined arrangement, which are obtained by outlining the desired design by means of dividing strips placed on or through the foundation layer.

These strips generally consist of relatively 'y 25 thin and wide metal bars set on edge, said bars having their upper edges flush with the surface of t-he floor, defining the desired des1 n. 1 -gSaid bars are generally provided with anchoring and positioning means insuringl a firm binding action between the strips of the materials of which the floor is composed; the positioning means furthermore serving as a gauge determining the line of separation between the lower and the upper layer.

These bars are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass for instance, the wearing qualities of which are approximately equal to those of the floor itself; and according to the nature of the floor and of the desi to be produced, the dividing strips may e of various thicknesses and lengths.

Relatively thin strips may readily be obtained out of sheet metal, and are. suitable for floors of moderate size; however, relatively large floors, or lioors composed of relatively large units, call for strips having sufficient rigidity to withstand the lateral pressure of the material without bulging when the floor is laid.

FLOOR STRIP serial nu. 375,053.

These hea-vier strips are also generally made out of sheet metal but brass being expensive material, their use materially increases the cost of the floor. At times the e ornamental features are such as to require extra thick metallic strips showing through the material, and in these cases, the cost is still higher.

1t is therefore important to save as much as possible in the cost of the materials eme0 ployed and I have accordingly produced a type of dividing strip in which the upper seotion is made out of a bar of brass or other suitable material while the lower section is made of less expensive material such as for instance, sheet steel.

Broadly, the idea of using two di'erent metals, one more expensive for the upper portion and one less expensive for the lower portion of the strip, is not new, strips of this 'I0 character having been described and claimed by me in three other patents previously granted to me; Nos. 1,718,041;-1,697,688; 1,715,193. However, the strips described in said patents comprise each an upper and a lower section 7i connected to each other by means of dovetailed joints.

I have found in practice that the design and mode of construction of bimetallic strips may be simplified without impairing theirusefulness, at the same time eecting considerable economies in the Vcost of the manufacture of tools required.

The primary object of this invention is to provide dividing strips for terrazzo and similar floors having an upper and a lower sect-ion, the lower section being made of relatively inexpensive material, and being connected to the upper section by means of riveting or simi ilar operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel `and improved arrangement of bimetallic Vstrip composed of two sections, which may be of the same or of different thicknesses. p 95 A further object of the'invention is to provide a dividing strip for terrazzo or similar floors composed of two sections joined to each other, said section being adapted to be produced by readily available methods and means NJ of manufacture and lending themselves to standardization although upper sections of various widths may be used.

Other objects and advantages of the pres# ent invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragment-ary view in perspective of a strip embodying my invention iii one of its possible forms;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar Views of strips in different designs also embodying my invention;

, Fig. l is -a fragmentary plan view of a bar from -which ltwo upper sections of the type shown iii Fig. 3 may be obtained;

Fig. 5 is an end elevationthereof Fig. 6 isa fragmentary plan viewof a metal strip from which two lower sections of the type illustrated iii Fig. 3 may be obtained? Fig. 7 isa fragmentary view in perspective of a still different type of strip in which the two sections are secured to each other by means of through 4tongue and slot joints;

Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary side view in elevation yof the upper section of said strip;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the same;

Fig. l() is a fragmentary side view in elevationof the lower section of the strip shown Fig. 11 isa fragmentary side view in elevation of another strip composed of two sections joined by through tongue and slot joints;

Fig. l2 is a `cross sectional 'viewof the same; and

Fig. 13 isa plansectional -viewof the same;

Fig. 14 vis across sectional view of the strip and floor.

The strip illustrated in Fig. l comprises an upper section 20 formed vwith a relatively .thick upper portion 2l having an uninterrupted upper edge or surface 22 and a rib portion 23 depending therefrom. To said upper section which may be made of brass or other suitable material is connected a lower section 24 which -is made of steel -or other relatively inexpensive but strong inaterial, by means of rivets such as 25 passing through the upper part of section 24 and rib portion 23 4of the upper section.

The lower section is preferably provided with anchoring and positioning means of any suitabledescription, for instance, in the for-m of ears 26 -struclr off and laterally bent Y from the body of said lower section.

The same type of connection may be used between a relativ-ely Ythin upper section 27 and -a rela-tively zthin lower section -28 as shown in Fig. 2., l,the inner .edges of said sections being koverlapping a sufficient distance for the insertionof rivets 29. In said Fig, 2

rsiegrse I show the anchoring and positioning means in the forni of open shape cup members 30 struck olf and laterally offset from the body of the lower section.

This type of anchoring and positioning means is preferable to that shown in Fig. l because the strip is strengthened rather than weakened thereby.

ln Fig. 3 I illustrate a strip to a certain eX- tent similar to that shown in Fig. 1, with the difference that both the upper and the lower section are notched vso as to permit saving of material in Athe process of manufacture.

The upper section 3l is composed of a relatively thick upper part 32 having an uninterrupted upper edge 33, and a plurality of e-venly spaced relatively thin lug members 34 dependingtherefrom. Said lug members are separated 4by intervening notches 35 which are preferably of the saine length as the lugs; by virtue of this construction, it is possible to obtain two upper sections out of a bar composed Yof two thick edge portions 32', 32 joined vby a rib section 34', the section of said port-ions 32 corresponding to the section of '.r.

part 32, and the section of rib 34 corresponding to the section of lugs 34.

Said bar may be out longitudinally in a Zig-Zag outline as shown in Fig. 4l, so that one Vhalf of the material which would otherwisc be required to produce a solid rib portion 34 will be saved.

in a similar manner, the lower section 36 is composed of a lower strip portion 37 having an uninterrupted lower edge 38, evenly spaced lugs such as 39 upwardly projecting therefrom. Said lugs 39 are spaced to register with lugs 34, so that their upper edge portion may overlap said lugs aA sufiicient distance to permit the iiisertioii of rivets 40.

in this manner two lower sections 36, 36 may be obtained by cutting a single strip the width of which is equal to the height of one lower section plus the height of lower edge portion 37 as shown in Fig. 6.

1 Lugs 39 are preferablyA provided with ancnoring or positioning means such as ears Lil, although it must be observed that the positioning action may be fulfilled by the low-er edge and the upper section of the strip, while the ears or other anchoring means may be formed at a lower level if desired. l

instead of being connectedV by means .of rivets the vtwo sections may be connected by providing one of said sections with slots and the other one with tongues which may be iiiserted through said slots and bent over so as to form a permanent connection therebetween.

For instance, the strip shown in Figs. 7 to i0, is composed of an upper section 4t2 coniprising, like the strip of F ig. 3 an upper rela tively thick part 43 and a plurality of evenly o Ei 'NIS

LSU

spaced relatively thin lugs 44 depending therefrom.

Said lugs are each provided with a longitudinal through slot 45 through which may be inserted tongues 46 projecting from and bent laterally of upper edge 47 of the lower section 48.

After said tongues have been inserted through slots or openings 45 they are bent downwardly and inwardly about the lower part of the corresponding lugs 44, as shown at 49 in Fig. 7, and the two sections are thus permanently connected to each other.

The lower edge 50 of the lower section may be notched as shown at 51, in correspondence of tongues 46 in order to permit the tongues of one unit to be obtained out of notches produced in a previously cut unit, as Fig. 10 clearly shows.

Also in this case the tongues and notches 5l are spaced sufficiently to form relatively long lugs 52, so that anchoring or positioning means or both such as ears 53 may be struck off the lower section and bent laterally thereof.

While tongues 46 are shown projecting from the upper edge of the lower section it is obvious that said tongues may also be struck off the body of said lower section; and it is also obvious that a positive connecting action may also be had if the tongues are bent in a longitudinal direction instead of being` bent downwardly as Vshown in Fig. 7.

For instance, in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 53 designates the upper section which is provided with spaced openings 54 through which may be inserted tongues 55 struck off the body of the lower section 56, the outer end of said tongue being bent rearwardly as shown at 57 so as to connect the two sections together.

In Fig. 14, I show a strip of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 in position. In said ligure, 57 designates the lower layer or bed of the floor laid on the floor foundation 58, and 59 designates the upper layer, the upper section 60 of the strip having its upper edge 61 flush with the upper surface of the floor.

My invention may be embodied in strips of various other designs, as will be understood;`.

the drawings will therefore be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugs a5, being provided with through openings, and

means passing through said openings, connecting said sections to each other.

2. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced openings, and meansintegral with said lowersection, passing through said openings, connect-` ing said sections to each other.

3i. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having a longitudinallyeXtending top portion with an uninterruptedupper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugs being provided with through openings, and means integral with said lower section, passing through said openings, connecting said sections to each other.

4. A Hoor stripof the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, at least one of said sections being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, means passing through said openings, rigidly connecting said sections to each other, and anchoring means integral with and oifset laterally of said lower section.

5. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upp-er edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugs being provided with through openings, means passing through said openings, connecting said sections to each other, and anchoring means integral with and offset laterally of said lower section. Y

6. Afloor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, means integral with said lower section, passing through said openings, connecting said sections to each other, and anchoring means integral with and oliset laterally of said lower section.

7. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugs being provided with through openings, means integral with said .lower section, passing through saidopenings, connecting said sections to each other, and anchoring means integral with and offset laterally of said lower section. Y

8. A floor strip'of the character described, comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section being provided with a plnraltyo longitudinallyspaced open-ings,

and tongues extending from the upper edge of said lower section, passing through. said openings, connecting' said` sections to each other.

9. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an uppersection. and a lower section, said upper section being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, and tongues extending from; the upper edge of said lower section, passing through said' openings, connecting said sections to each. other, the lower edge of said lower sec-v tion. being formed with notches symmetrical with said tongues.

10.- A floor stri-p of the character described',- c'oinprising an upper section and a lower sect-ion, said upper' section having a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs` depending therefrom, said lugs being provided with through openings, and tongues extending from the upper edge of said. lower section', passingV through said openings, connecting said sections to each other.

1l. A iioor strip of the character described., comprising' an upper section and a lower section,.said upper section being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings', tongues extending from the upper edge of said lower section, passing through said openings, connecting. said sections to each other, and anchoring means integral with and oiiset laterally of said lower section.

12. A fioorstrip of the character described,- comprising an uppr' section and a lower sec# tion', said upper section having a longitudinally extending top' portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending therefrom, said lugsV being provided with throughV openings, tongues extending troni the upper edge of said lower section,- passing through said open!- ings, connecting. said sections to each other, and? anch'oring'means integral' with and otiset laterally of said lower section. y

13. A iioor strip' of the character described,

. comprising an upper section and a lower section, said upper section having. a longitudinally extending top portion with an uninterrupted upper edge, and a plurality of spaced lugs depending there-from, said lugs being; provided with through openings, tongues extending from the upper edge ott said lower section, passing through said? openings, connecting said sections to each other, and' anchoring means integral with and oiiset laterally of said lower section, the

lower edge of said lower section being formed with notches symmetrical with sai-d tongues.

PASQUALE GALAS'S.,

DISCLAIMER 1,813,736.- Pasquale Galassi, New York, N. Y. BIMETALLIC FLOOR STRIPS. Patent dated July 7, 1931. Disclaimer filed December 28, 1932, by the patentee.

I disclaim from the scope of claims 2, 4 and 6 that type of Hoor strip Which is composed of an upper and a lower section permanently connected to each other, in Which the longitudinally spaced openings provided in at least one of said sections, and the means passing through said openings rigidly connecting said sections to each other are produced simultaneously by partially punching and forcing out laterally burrs or lugs from the adjoining thicknesses of metal, forming spaced prong members laterally oliset from the body of the strip.

[Oficial Gazette January 81, 1933.] 

